A few weeks ago, the Indonesian government started campaigning for a new order called the New Normal. This new order demonstrates the fundamental changing in reality and relations, so that old norms can no longer be effective.
According to FIB UGM lecturer, Dr. Achmad Munjid, the crisis’s impact on the Covid-19 pandemic revealed the veil of social construction, and joint efforts to overcome the crisis and plan the social structure constructed for post-pandemic. In these conditions, according to him, cooperation becomes one of the effective strategies in dealing with this pandemic.
“Mutual cooperation considered as an asset, as a spirit, it is a meaningful tool for us to confront Covid-19 structurally and effectively,” he said on Friday (12/6).
He explained what will happen after the pandemic is built from this present time. Covid-19 pandemic will still bring various impacts to the community, so all parties must unite to anticipate.
He also explained that every individual that lives in a society and community bound by two kinds of ties: free and strong bonds. A strong relationship is a bond between family, neighbors, or peers, while acquaintances is a way where a free bond built up.
Both types of bonds each have advantages. A strong bond allows for quick and intensive trust and movement, while a free bond has a far and wide range. The dissemination of information, knowledge, opportunities, innovation, and leadership will effectively run if utilizing the two bonding models.
“Covid-19 spreads widely and so quickly because it works according to the principles of networking. To fight Covid-19, we also have to use mutual cooperation as a network. We need to work as Covid-19 works,” he explained.
Achmad Munjid explained this material in the Webinar entitled “Network Life Planning (Mutual Cooperation and Empathy) in the face of Covid-19” held by the UGM Professor Council. In addition to Achmad, Ganjar Pranowo, as the Governor of Central Java, Prof. Dr. R. Agus Sartono, MBA as the Deputy Minister for Education and Religion of the Ministry of Coordinating Ministry of Social and Cultural Affairs also other speakers presented at the Webinar.
Agus Sartono described the national condition due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. It is when economic growth slowed due to low productivity, and unemployment rose by 2.92 – 5.23 million, which means there is an increase in new unemployed in 2020. This fact will also affect the number of poor people also will be increased by 1.16 – 3.78 million.
Challenges due to pandemics also arise in the education sector because remote learning from home encounters several obstacles, including access problems. After all, not all parents have access to online learning.
In line with preparations for New Normal, according to him, the Ministry of Culture has set a scenario towards a New Normal in the education units, yet still paying attention to the students’ health protection.
“The government wants to protect our children as the next generation of our nation,” said Agus.
Author: Gloria
Translator: Natasa A